Loom pick control mechanism

ABSTRACT

A modified picking mechanism is disclosed for interrupting actuation of a picker stick at predetermined intervals to stop the insertion of filling yarn into the fabric for a predetermined number of picks. A pick shaft is disclosed wherein a pick arm that is associated with the picker stick is journaled around a reduced diameter portion of the pick shaft for free movement thereabout. A spring biased pawl attached to the pick arm is normally presented for contact with a protuberance from the pick shaft so as to actuate the picker stick to propel the shuttle across the loom. At predetermined intervals, a box motion indicator causes an indicator rod to be raised which pivots a lever into engagement with the pawl and causes the pawl to rotate out of engaging position with the protuberance from the pick shaft. The pick shaft then reciprocates freely whereby the picker stick remains motionless and no fill yarn is inserted.

United States Patent 1 Mar. M, 1972 Hiill [54] LUUMPICK CONTROLMlEfiHANlisii i [72] Inventor: William P. Hill], Columbia, S.C.

[73] Assignee: M. lLowensteirt & Sons, inc, New York,

[22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 61,091

[52] U.S.Cl ..139/1156 [51] int. 121. ..D03d 49/50 [58] Field of Search..l39/80,119,120,156,182, 139/225, 320

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 991,169 5/1911 Prussak etal..139/156 2,748,806 6/1956 Staer ..l39/156 3,227,186 1/1966 Baugham....139/156 Primary Examiner-Henry S. .laudon AttorneyWe1lington M. Manning,Jr.

A modified picking mechanism is disclosed for interrupting actuation ofa picker stick at predetermined intervals to stop the insertion offilling yarn into the fabric for a predetermined number of picks. A pickshaft is disclosed wherein a pick arm that is associated with the pickerstick is journaled around a reduced diameter portion of the pick shaftfor free movement thereabout. A spring biased pawl attached to the pickarm is normally presented for contact with a protuberance from the pickshaft so as to actuate the picker stick to propel the shuttle across theloom. At predetermined intervals, a box motion indicator causes anindicator rod to be: raised which pivots a lever into engagement withthe pawl and causes the pawl to rotate out of engaging position with theprotuberance from the pick shaft. The pick shaft then reciproc-atesfreely whereby the picker stick remains motionless and no fill yarn isinserted.

ABSTRACT 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEBMAR 14 I972 3,648,735

INVENTOR. WILLIAM P. HILL Loom Pick Contact. MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION It is often desirable during the weaving of fabric to producean intended thin spot in the fabric. The phrase thin spot is hereindefined as a section of woven fabric where filling ends are omitted andonly warp ends are present. Such thin spots are periodically produced inthe continuous manufacture of towels, tablecloths, washclothes and thelike which have a fringe at each end thereof. Hence, after the fabric iswoven, a cut across adjacent thin spots in the fabric produces thearticle with a warp-wise fringe at each end of the article. Obviously,the continuous weaving followed by cutting across the thin spots is amuch more economical means of producing the article than individualmanufacture of the article with the fringe. Box looms utilizing amagazine of normally four boxes for holding filling yarn and supplyingsame to the picker can produce a thin spot in the fabric when the loomis pro-' grammed to provide an empty box in the way of the picker stickduring the prescribed period of time. For a single shuttle loom,however, and even for the box looms where a four color filling patternis being produced, or for that matter, where all of the available boxesare'being utilized, there is no presently available system that can beeconomically provided to enable the loom to cease inserting filling yarnfor a predetermined number of picks during weaving. While there aresystems available for accomplishing this purpose, each of these systemsis deficient either in the modus operandi or in the cost of equipping aloom with the apparatus of the system.

Such systems are exemplified in the prior art by US. Pat. Nos. 3,227,186to Baugham; 1,171,249 to Reynolds and 1,651,338 to Brown. Differentsystems for interrupting the supply of filling yam-to the loom aredisclosed in the aforementioned patents. None of the teachings of thesepatents, however, either alone or in combination anticipate or suggestthe present invention, which will be hereinafter described in detail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide a modification for a loom to permit periodic interruption of thesupply of filling yarn to the fabric being woven.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a system forperiodically deactivating the picker stick of a loom so as to preventthe filling yarn from being propelled across the fabric being produced.

Still further, another object of the present invention is to provide animproved system for producing intended thin spots in fabric.

Generally speaking, the present invention relates to a pick controlmechanism for a shuttle loom comprising a picker stick; a drivingmechanism for affording operative motion to said picker stick; amechanical linkage connecting said driving mechanism and said pickerstick, said mechanical linkage normallyoperatively connecting said drivemechanism and said picker stick; and control means associated with saidmechanical linkage to operatively disconnect said driving mechanism fromsaid picker stick during predetermined intervals.

Hence, the present invention broadly construed, operates to interruptthe driving force to the picker stick at desired intervals to produce asection of the fabric being woven where the pick ends are omitted. Undernormal operation of the present invention as the pick shaftreciprocates, a protuberance from the pick shaft engages a pawl that isassociated with and extends outwardly from the mechanical linkage thatoperatively connects the pick shaft and the picker stick. The force ofthe reciprocating picker shaft is thus transmitted through themechanical linkage to the picker stick whereby the picker stickpivotally moves forward, strikes the shuttle and throws it across theloom. After a predetermined number of picks have been inserted into thefabric, the box motion indicator associated with the loom causes anindicator rod to be raised. The indicator rod is operatively associatedwith a lever that is moved into engagement with the pawl to pivot thepawl out of engageable position with the protuberance from the pickshaft, whereby as the pick shaft reciprocates, it does not engage thepawl and hence does not transmit driving motion to the picker stick.After a predetermined number of picks have been omitted, the indicatorrod is depressed whereby the lever moves out of engagement with the pawlwhich permits the pawl spring to again bias the pawl into engageableposition with the protuberance to resume normal weaving operations.

The present invention is extremely unique, in that, it is both simpleand economical to install on a new loom and may likewise be economicallyadded to an existing loom with only minor modifications thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of aportion of a loom illustrating operative elements of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view taken along line IIII of FIG. 1is to show the relative position of the operative components of thepresent invention during normal weaving.

E16. 3 is a partial cross sectional view taken along line IIII of FIG. 1to show the relative position of operative elements of the presentinvention during interruption of picking.

FIG. 41 is an exploded side view of the spring biased pawl of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a lug shaft sleeve and washer according to theteachings of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the Figures,preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described indetail. In FIG. 1, that portion of a loom is presented. such as isnecessary to describe the operative elements and operation of thepresent invention. Framework 10 of the loom supports a picker stick 12that inserts the filling yarn via a shuttle (not shown) between the warpyarns of the fabric being produced. The picker stick 12 is conventionaland will not be further discussed in detail, per se, or as to itspivotal mounting to frame 111. Normally, upon actuation by the drivingmechanism for the loom, the picker stick 12 is suddenly pivoted in thedirection of the one headed arrow so as to provide impact to the shuttleand propel it across the loom.

Picker stick 12 is shown associated with a mechanical linkage generallyindicated as 15 which in turn is associated with a pick shaft 16.Mechanical linkage 15 comprises lug strap 13, lug 141 and pick arm 20.Pick shaft 16 is shown to have a reduced diameter end 16 which isreceived in a journal 18 mounted to frame 111. Adjacent journal 18 is apick arm 20 which forms a part of linkage 15. On a conventional loom,pick arm 211 is normally integral with the pick shaft 16 such that, aspick shaft 16 reciprocates, pick am 20 likewise reciprocates and throughthe normal connections causes transmission of a driving force to thepicker stick 12.

According to the teachings of the present invention, however, thereduced diameter portion 16 of pick shaft 16 extends through pick arm20, and pick arm 20 is freely rotatably received around reduced portionHence, without consideration of any further association, pick arm 20would stand idle during reciprocation of pick shaft 16. To operativelyconnect the mechanical linkage 15 with the pick shaft 16 and thus permittransmission of force to picker stick 12, a tubular collar 22 ispermanently secured to pick arm 20 as by welding or as an integral partthereof. Collar 22 has an opening therethrough in which is received ashaft 26 having a pawl 28 intermediate the length thereof. As is bestseen in FIG. 4, a spring means 30 is positioned along shaft 26 betweenpawl 28 and a terminal flange 32. Pawl 28 is provided with an upper end29 for engagement with pick shaft protuberance l7 and a lower end 29'for engagement with 1ever 44, the purposes of which will be describedhereinafter.

Shaft 26, as mentioned earlier, is received within the opening of collar22. Shaft 26, however, passes completely through collar.22 and issecured at the opposite end thereof by a washer 21 and a sleeve 23. Bothwasher 21 and sleeve 23 have a flat surface area 21 and 23 respectively(see FIG. Additionally, sleeve 23 has a set screw 25 therein thatengages shaft 26 to prevent rotation of shaft 26 with respect to sleeve23. Flat surfaces 21' and 23 engage a flat surface of on pick arm 20 toprevent rotation of washer 21 and sleever 23 when pawl 28 is engaged byprotuberance 17 whereby the force produced by reciprocation of pickshaft 16 is transferred from pawl 28 through collar 22 to pick arm 20.

Pick shaft 16 has extending outwardly therefrom an arcuate protuberance17. Protuberance 17 is preferably integral with pick shaft 16 and as maybe seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 has a contact face 17 and a shoulder 17', whichunder normal weaving conditions, form a V for contact with the forwardbeveled end 29 of pawl 28. Hence, as pick shaft 16 reciprocates,protuberance 17 moves into and out of contact with the beveled forwardend 29 of pawl 28 to transmit a driving force to picker stick 12 throughcollar 22, pick arm 20, lug l4 and lug strap 13.

A mounting 40 is secured to the loom frame generally below pawl 28.Mounting 40 has an opening 41 extending through a portion thereof.Opening 41 rotatably receives a shaft 42. Shaft 42 has secured to oneend thereof a lever 44 which extends upwardly in the general directionof pawl 28. During normal weaving conditions as is depicted in FIG. 2,the upper end 45 of lever 44 rests adjacent the lower end 29' of pawl28. Shaft 42 further is equipped with rod arm 46 at the end oppositelever 44. Rod arm 46 has attached thereto and extending upwardlytherefrom an indicator rod 48, the opposite end of which is operativelyassociated with a normal box motion indicator 50 that is provided on theloom. Box motion indicator 50 programs the insertion of a particularnumber of picks after which the picking motion is interrupted for apredetermined number of picks to produce the thin spot in the fabric.

Under normal operating conditions, pick shaft 16 receives power from aconventional cam system (not shown) and reciprocates as shown by thetwo-headed arrow. During each cycle of reciprocation the V" betweencontact face 17' and shoulder 17" of arcuate protuberance 17 engages theforward face 29 of pawl 28 to cause pick arm 20 to pivot around reducedend 16 of pick shaft 16. The pivotal motion of pick arm 20 causes thelower end 20 of pick arm 20 to pull lug l4 and lug strap 13 in thedirection of the single headed arrows. Hence, since linkage is connectedto picker stick 12, a driving force is provided for forward pivotalmovement of picker stick 12 which drives the shuttle across the loom toinsert the fill yam between the warp yarns of the fabric being produced.

After a predetermined number of picks have been laid into the fabric,the box motion indicator actuates a means (not shown) to raise indicatorrod 48. Raising of indicator rod 48 causes indicator arm 46 to raise,which in turn rotates shaft 42. As shaft 42 rotates, lever 44 receivedon the end thereof pivots forward and engages the lower end 29' of pawl28 (See FIG. 3) which in turn causes the forward beveled end 29 of pawl28 to pivot against the bias of spring 30 out of position where it wouldbe engaged by contact face 17' and shoulder 17" of protuberance 17during each cycle of reciprocation of pick shaft 16. As such, while pickshaft 16 reciprocates, protuberance 17 misses beveled end 29 of pawl 28.Force is thus not transmitted to pick arm 20, pick shaft 16 thus turnsfreely within pick arm and lug l4, lug strap 13 and picker stick 12 arenot moved. Accordingly, the shuttle remains in the shuttle box and fillyarn is not inserted across the fabric.

The indicator rod 48 remains in the raised position during apredetermined time sequence to facilitate the omission of apredetermined number of picks or predetermined number of insertions offill yarn into the fabric. After the predetermined number of picks havebeen omitted, the box motion indicator actuates appropriate means tolower indicator rod 48. Rod arm 46 is thus depressed which rotates shaft42 and disengages lever 44 from lower end 29 of pawl 28. Spring 30 thenbiases the forward beveled end 29 of pawl 28 back into position to againbe struck by protuberance 17 to permit normal insertion of pick endsinto the fabric.

Sections of the fabric produced as described above during thepredetermined time sequences for omitting filing ends contain only thewarp or longitudinal yarns and thin spots are thus produced. After thefabric has been woven, removed from the loom and further processed asdesired, the fabric may then be cut across the thin spots to separatethe articles which then possess only a plurality of warp yarns at eachend which cooperate to form a fringe for the article.

As mentioned earlier, while the basic utilization of the presentinvention is a modification for a single shuttle loom, the sameadaptation may be incorporated on a multiple shuttle box loom. Forexample, on a four box loom where three colors are being inserted asfilling yarns, a thin spot may be incorporated into the fabric bypresenting the fourth (empty) box to the picker stick during the timesequence for omission of filling yarn. If, however, four colors arebeing utilized in the weaving of the fabric, then, of course, there isno empty box to be presented and the thin spot cannot be produced. Assuch, modification to a multiple box loom to incorporate the apparatusof the present invention thereon will permit production of a thin spotin the fabric regardless of the number of boxes being used. Accordingly,the present invention may be mounted on a multiple box loom as well as asingle shuttle loom to be used either in lieu of presentation of anempty box to the picker stick or to be used when full utilization ismade of the boxes on the loom.

Having described the apparatus of the present invention in detail in theenvironment of producing thin spots in fabric, it is obvious thatvariations and modifications may be made thereto by one skilled in theart without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, thescope of the present invention should be determined only by the claimsappended hereto.

What is claimed:

1. A pick control mechanism for a shuttle loom comprising:

a. a picker stick;

b. a driving mechanism for affording operative motion to said pickerstick, said driving mechanism comprising a pick shaft and means forreciprocating said pick shaft, said pick shaft having a protuberancesecured thereto and extending outwardly therefrom;

c. a mechanical linkage normally connecting said driving mechanism andsaid picker stick, said mechanical linkage comprising a pawl normallyengaged by said protuberance during reciprocation of said pick shaft topropel said picker stick forward; and

d. control means associated with said pawl to move said pawl out of thepath of travel of said protuberance at such times when it is desired toomit a filling end in a fabric being woven on said loom, said controlmeans comprising a lever movable into and out of engagement with saidpawl.

2. A pick control mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said pawl ispivotally secured to an arm, said arm being freely swingable about saidpick shaft at one end and operatively connected to said picker stick atanother end.

3. A pick control mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said pawl isspring biased into the path of travel of said protuberance forengagement therewith. I

4. A pick control mechanism as defined in claim I wherein said controlmechanism comprises a shaft mounted on said loom for rotationalmovement, a lever received on said shaft for movement therewith, saidshaft further having means as sociated therewith for causing rotationalmovement thereof at a predetermined time.

5. A pick control mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said meanscausing rotational movement to said shaft comprise a box motionindicator and a rod associated with said indicator and said shaft, saidrod being actuated by said indicator at a predetermined time to affordrotational movement to said shaft.

6. A pick control mechanism as defied in claim ll wherein ends of saidprotuberance and said pawl are constructed so as to insure solidengagement therebetween.

1. A pick control mechanism for a shuttle loom comprising: a. a pickerstick; b. a driving mechanism for affording operative motion to saidpicker stick, said driving mechanism comprising a pick shaft and meansfor reciprocating said pick shaft, said pick shaft having a protuberancesecured thereto and extending outwardly therefrom; c. a mechanicallinkage normally connecting said driving mechanism and said pickerstick, said mechanical linkage comprising a pawl normally engaged bysaid protuberance during reciprocation of said pick shaft to propel saidpicker stick forward; and d. control means associated with said pawl tomove said pawl out of the path of travel of said protuberance at suchtimes when it is desired to omit a filling end in a fabric being wovenon said loom, said control means comprising a lever movable into and outof engagement with said pawl.
 2. A pick control mechanism as defined inclaim 1 wherein said pawl is pivotally secured to an arm, said arm beingfreely swingable about said pick shaft at one end and operativelyconnected to said picker stick at another end.
 3. A pick controlmechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said pawl is spring biased intothe path of travel of said protuberance for engagement therewith.
 4. Apick control mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said controlmechanism comprises a shaft mounted on said loom for rotationalmovement, a lever received on said shaft for movement therewith, saidshaft further having means associated therewith for causing rotationalmovement thereof at a predetermined time.
 5. A pick control mechanism asdefined in claim 4 wherein said means causing rotational movement tosaid shaft comprise a box motion indicator and a rod associated withsaid indicator and said shaft, said rod being actuated by said indicatorat a predetermined time to afford rotational movement to said shaft. 6.A pick control mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein ends of saidprotuberance and said pawl are constructed so as to insure solidengagement therebetween.